Villain AU
The hero goes dark: an alternate universe where a canonically good character chose — or was pushed toward — villainy. The best villain AUs keep the character recognizable, building their fall from traits canon already showed.
What is Villain AU in fanfiction?
The hero goes dark: an alternate universe where a canonically good character chose — or was pushed toward — villainy. The best villain AUs keep the character recognizable, building their fall from traits canon already showed. With over 25,000 works on Archive of Our Own, Villain AU is one of the most beloved tropes in fanfiction.
Why readers love Villain AU
Watching a beloved hero's virtues curdle into menace is fascinating precisely because the logic tracks; readers love a fall that feels earned rather than imposed.
Examples of Villain AU
The chosen one accepting the dark mentor's offer in chapter one, or a betrayed hero returning years later as the arc's most sympathetic antagonist.
Best Villain AU Fanfics
The highest-rated Villain AU stories across all fandoms on AO3.
Monitoring the Situation
Completeby tsukinofaerii
The ventilation system on Tony's flying fortress is broken, heating up the cell where Captain America is being held prisoner.
And Be A Villain
Completeby Evening_Bat
They were some of the most dangerous criminals in the galaxy. And now they were working together.
Partners!
Completeby PeterHaleforAlpha
Eddie Thawne needs help with a coup. He was sent by Captain Cold to the mysterious thief who calls himself the Flash.
Tony Stark: Back and Forth
Completeby thenightetc
Villain au fanvid I made for Tony Stark. The worst part is it really wouldn’t take much to reinterpret him this way.
Leave it Colder
Completeby thenightetc
This was going to be a Pitch tribute. Then certain of the lyrics really caught my ear and it was going to be a Jack tribute. Then it was going to be lighthearted Blackice.Then it turned into… this.Villain!Jack au Jack/Pitch fanvid, set to I Will Not Bow, wherein Jack accepts Pitch's "we could rule
Cyborg King
by orphan_account
King Genos ruled over every city with his destructive power that took him 3 years to obtain. He is the most feared and respected villain until a bald man with a black cape shows up to his palace claiming to be a villain for fun."Being a villain for fun doesn't exactly pay the bills."
Virus
Completeby littlevos
Genos finds himself being captured and infected with a sort of disease, unbeknownst to him, that starts to slowly turn him from Hero to Villain. Having to rely subconsciously on a certain little hero to try and save him.
Playing with Tin Soldiers
Completeby paperficwriter
Genos challenges a villain and realizes he is outmatched in more ways than brute strength.
The Sins of Stockholm
Completeby paperficwriter
Genos should have known better than to follow him after their fight. In the dark, it's hard to see how far the drop is off the precipice.
New Toy
by CheekyKichi
Genos meets a man that may be either very interesting or very dangerous.
What Could Have Been
Completeby CheekyKichi
A Saitama that has developed without Genos realizes how important he is. He tries to find the Genos in his own universe, and succeeds.
Sharing Toys
Completeby paperficwriter
Mumen Rider discovers that Sai has introduced a new factor into their already complicated relationship.
Face cards
Completeby Divine_shot
A bored man meets a cyborg.
Let Me Do All the Work Master
by asiankittee
Genos decides to do something very special for his master on Valentine’s Day and he’s completely in control. For the most part.
Too Little Too Late
Completeby West_8th_Avenue
When Genos had gone out in the middle of the night he had never imagined that he would come face to face with the strongest villain alive; Saitama. The college student had no idea what to expect from a heartless man like him. He thought that he was going to die that night by Saitama's hands, that he
I'd call you 'baby' but then you'd probably kill me
by Pomodoridori
Genos is a mobster and Saitama is a hitman. They love each other very much (even if they don't know it just yet).
Through the Darkness
by mickeycmick
Rather than inheriting One for All, Izuku is born with All for One, yet not all is warm and bright.
Soulmates
Completeby asiankittee
Where Saitama is a very evil, crude villain… and I also think he has a terribly rude mouth.
let it go
Completeby Authoress
He’s got him this time. This time for real.
if you chose life
Completeby Authoress
Payback is a bitch.
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Related Tropes
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Villain AU fics are on AO3?
There are over 25,000 works tagged with Villain AU on Archive of Our Own.
What fandoms have the most Villain AU stories?
Popular fandoms for Villain AU include My Hero Academia, Star Wars, Undertale.
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